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Barnes, Bill (William), 1920 - 2019

 Person

Biography

William 'Bill' Barnes was a renowned film history and collector, who together with his twin brother John (1920-2008), amassed one of the finest collections of early British cinema in the country.

Bill and John became fascinated with cinema from an early age. When they were twelve years old they had a home cine projector and soon after, still in their teen years, they started to make their own films and documentaries. Examples of the titles they created together are Cornish Nets and With the Gypsies in Kent.

Bill and John started to collect cinema material in the 1930s. The brothers served together in the Royal Navy during WWII. At the end of the war, they became specialist booksellers of cinema and pre-cinema material.

The brothers opened the Barnes Museum of Cinematography in St Ives in 1936. John managed the collection while Bill continued to build up the collection visiting fairs, markets and auctions around the country. At this time Bill was working as a Film Production Consultant in London, where he used to visit markets and antique shops. The museum closed in 1986 and the collection was split between the Museo Nazionale del Cinema in Turin and Hove Museum. Eventually, Bill started to run his own stall in Chelsea antiques market selling optical toys, lantern slides and photo cine items. John, who remained in Cornwall all his life, died in 2008. The brothers had always been very close and Bill felt a great loss.

Bill became a leading authority on many aspects of the optical media that preceded cinema and in particular of the early years of cinema itself.

John and Bill wrote extensively on early cinema history, John was known for The Beginnings of Cinema in Britain series and Bill for his articles on The Magic Lantern journal among others.

Bill and John received an honorary doctorate from the University of Stirling in 2006 and the Jean Mitry Prize.

Found in 177 Collections and/or Records:

Messrs. Poole and Young New Dioramic Programme, 4 August 1879

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.19
Scope and Contents Grand Concert Hall and Skating Rink, West Street, Brighton, Zulu War, Russia, Turkey, Cyprus, India, Afghanistan, Germany, Europe, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Miss Mable de Verne, singing act, Mr Frank Freeland, impresonation act, Professor Alexander, ventriloquist act, The band conducted by Mr Jas. Montague. Blue type on pink background and wavy border on the front cover, inside programme, on back cover Liverpool press reviews and listing of variety acts. Printed by Stafford and...
Dates: 4 August 1879

Messrs. Poole Bros. New Dioramic, Excursions Programme, 28 March 1881

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.2
Scope and Contents Assambly Rooms, Cheltenham, General Sir F. Roberts' triumphal entry into Cabul with the British Forces, Messrs. Poole Bros. new dioramic, Excursions depicting the most important events of the last two years in Afghanistan and South Africa, The new exhibition illustrating a journey to the capitals of Europe, Scenes in St. Petersburgh, Tour of the Swiss Alps, Opinions of the Bristol Press, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Miss Jennie Bowmaker, singing act, The Great Maclagan, impersonation...
Dates: 28 March 1881

Messrs. Poole Bros. New Dioramic, Excursions Programme, 9 May 1881

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.3
Scope and Contents Theatre Royal, Gloucester, General Sir F. Roberts' triumphal entry into Cabul with the British Forces, Messrs. Poole Bros. new dioramic, Excursions depicting the most important events of the last two years in Afghanistan and South Africa, The new exhibition illustrating a journey to the capitals of Europe, Scenes in St. Petersburgh, Tour of the Swiss Alps, Opinions of the Bristol press, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Miss Jennie Bowmaker, singing act, The Great Maclagan, impersonation...
Dates: 9 May 1881

Messrs. Poole, The World Programme, 25 September 1882

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.1
Scope and Contents Public Hall, Smethwick, Entry of General Sir Garnet Wolseley into Cairo with British Forces, Alexandria bombarded, on fire and in ruins!, England to Malta, Turkey, Cyprus, The Holy Land, Egypt, Zululand, India, Afghanistan, Russia, Germany, Holland and Belgium, Bombardment of Alexandria, Scenes of Cairo and the Suez Canal, Mr J. Sullivan and Miss Josephine, excelsior black and white duologists and versatile artistes, Herr Blitz, magic act, Mr Horace Wilton, comic singing. Black type on...
Dates: 25 September 1882

Messrs. Poole's Gigantic Pictorial Enterprise Programme, 14 August 1882

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.18
Scope and Contents Exchange Rooms, New Street, Birmingham, Egypt and the world, Bombardment of Alexandria, Cairo, The Suez Canal, London, South Africa, Afghanistan, India, Assassination of the Szar, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Prince of Wales Minstrels, Mr Charles Ernest, singing act, Mr J. Richards, musical act, Mr Horace Wilton, comedy musical act, Mr Felix Somers, ventriloquist act, Herr Blitz, magic act, Mr Oscar Hartwell, The orchestra conducted by Mr B. Simpson. Black type on pink background with...
Dates: 14 August 1882

Messrs. Poole's New Dioramic Excursions Programme, 17 October 1881

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.17
Scope and Contents Temperance Hall, Tredegar, Afghanistan and South Africa, Capitals of Europe, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey in Europe, Constantinople, Cyprus, Entry of our Troops into Cabul under the command of General Roberts, The Ameer's Palace, General Burrows' disaster or great battle of Khussk-I-Nakhud, The Kojak-pass, City of Candahar, General Roberts great victory, The Kremlin, Viena, Berlin, Miss Ada Violet Poole, singing act, Messrs Henri and Pointer, musical act, Mr...
Dates: 17 October 1881

Mitchell & Kenyon Postcard Booklet, 2007

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.22
Scope and Contents

Booklet containing black and white still images from Mitchell and Kenyon films, produced by the British Film Institute, 18p.p.

Dates: 2007

Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1900 - 2018

 Series
Reference code: 178B44
Scope and Contents

Monographs, articles and research material on early travelling moving picture shows, related to the Poole family , Wilton's Music Hall, Walter Sickert, Bedford Music Hall, Randall Williams and early cinema in Scotland

Dates: c1900 - 2018

Mr Harry Poole's New Trips Abroad Programme, c1880 - 1889

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.23
Scope and Contents

Red type and illustrations of Egypt and battles, portraits of Wolseley, Gordon and Burnaby on green background on the front cover. Blank programme of overprinting location and programme, 2p.p

Dates: c1880 - 1889

Mr Joseph Poole's Grand New Myriorama Poster, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.6
Scope and Contents Colonial Hall, New Street, Cardiff. Picturesque trips abroad to all parts of the globe, Grand fashionable night, The Mayor David Jones, Esq., Ex-Mayor, Alderman T. Windsor Jacobs, Poole's Acme Combination Company, Mons. Martini's bicycle troupe, The Musical Marvels, Lizzie Dent and Jack Seebold, Mr Felix Somers, ventriloquist act, Miss Jessie Arnelli, musical act, Mr R.H.A. Williams, musical act, Mr Frank Freeland, Poole's orchestra and military band conducted by Mr C.W. Horton. Red type on...
Dates: c1880 - 1899

Mr Joseph Poole's New Myriorama Pictoresque Trips Abroad to all Parts of the Globe Poster, Friday 4 to Saturday 12 April c1890

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.1
Scope and Contents New Corn Exchange, Rochester. The Nile Expedition, Stanley in Africa, The falls of Niagara, The Goodwin Sands, London by day and night, The Queen's visit to Westminster Abbey, Ireland, Lakes of Killarney, Scenes of Liverpool, Poole's Acme Combination Company of talented artistes, The Great Alvantee, high wire act, Mr Harry Stewart, fast outfit change and musical act, Professor Le Ray, ventriloquist act, Miss Jessie Arnelly, musical act, La Petite Mdlle. De Lisle, musical act, Mr R.H.A....
Dates: Friday 4 to Saturday 12 April c1890

Mr Joseph Poole's Trips Abroad Poster, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.3
Scope and Contents New Assambly Hall, Fawcett Street, Sunderland. The Nile Expedition,Battle of Abu Klea, Battle of Gubat, Bird's eye view of Khartoum, The Soudan war, The war in Egypt, The Burmese war, Bulgaria, Miss Keturah Evans, musical act, Mr Harry Stewart, Mr Bob Desmond, comedy act, Mr C.W. Wilmott, comedy act. Black type on white background and blue and white illustrations of male portraits around the right and left edges, cote of arms on top centre and view of Suakim on bottom edge. Printed by Fry...
Dates: c1880 - 1899

Murder Is it? Poster, c1890 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.46
Scope and Contents

Black type on off white background describing the murder of farmer Giles Scroggins and offering a cash reward. Printed by Taylor Bros, Printers, Broad Weir, Bristol.

Dates: c1890 - 1899

Nero and Agrippina Programme, 1914

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.138
Scope and Contents

Golden type and illustration of a male and female portraits on profile on a purple background on the front cover, inside description of scenes and black and white photographs, 8p.p.

Dates: 1914

New Gallery Kinema Programme, 14 January 1914

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.123
Scope and Contents Regent Street Quadrant. Blue type and coat of arms sheild on off white background on front cover, inside commercial advertising and programme for the first anniversary of the venue listing new gallery march, the building and opening of the new gallery kinema, Scene from Hamlet, Willy and the Faithful Servant, scene from The three Musketeers, scenes in Calcutta, The Book of Fortune, Overture 1812, Modern Steel Industry, the scape scene from Les Miserables, Max as a Conjurer and final scen of...
Dates: 14 January 1914

Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbook, 1880 - 1901

 Series
Reference code: 178G56
Scope and Contents

Newspaper cuttings and scrapbook related to Poole's Myriorama collated by William Barnes

Dates: 1880 - 1901

Old St. Paul's Programme, 1914

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.137
Scope and Contents

Black type and black and white photograph of a movie scene, showing The Earl of Rochester overcoming Amabel in a room on the front cover, inside description of scenes and black and white photographs, contains commercial advertisements, 8p.p.

Dates: 1914

Opera Comique Programme, May 1896

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.124
Scope and Contents

Strand. Black type on green background on front cover announcing Shamus O'Brien in three tableaux founded on the celebrated poem by Jos. Sheridan Le Fanu, inside commercial advertising and programme listing C. Villiers Standord's new romantic comic opera Shamus O'brien, also contains programme for Olympia listing Chevalier Blondin and Animated pictures by Mr Paul's Theatrograph, 2p.p.

Dates: May 1896

Parody, c1870 - 1900

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.15
Scope and Contents

Poem entitled parody written on Poole's New Popular Trips Abroad letter headed paper with illustration of people from around the world behing two banners and the top of the globe behind them. Manuscript.

Dates: c1870 - 1900

Pitt's Palace Pictures Poster, c1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R53.35
Scope and Contents

Caerphilly. Pitt's Eletric Pictures and Varieties, our star film The Border Ranger, Dogs not Admitted, Calino as a Postman, An Eventful Evening, Freddie and the Aliens, True to his Trust, An Evil Influence, The Tale of the Sea, Children Mustn't Smoke, The Statue Dog, A Glimpse of the Neapolitan Camorra, Attacked by Araphoes, Help Wanted, Nat Pinkerton in the Smugglers' Den. Blue type on off white background and blue border. Printed by Willson's Printers, Mount Street, Nottingham.

Dates: c1899

Filtered By

  • Subject: Motion pictures X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 176
Collection 1
 
Subject
Acrobats 5
Aerialists 5
Anglo-Afghan Wars 7
Anglo-Burmese War, 3rd, 1885 4
Anglo-Egyptian War, 1882 27